Teal

That's awesome Capt. Phil. This made made me smile. I'm glad you found your way back on the water in a way that works for you! Be sure to post plenty of pics of those Harris Monsters from the comfort of your pontoon. I'd be the guy that mounted a grill up there and would be cooking hamburgers while pitching a jig. I dont fish from one, but there are plenty of older guys and retired fellows up here on Lake Gaston NC /Va area that striper and bass fish from their pontoons. Many of them have summer homes here and store their boats in winter time and keep them at their personal docks during the summer. Now I havent seen them in the shallows or in the backs of creeks too often, but oftentimes fishing long points, flats and sometimes in deeper structure up towards 85. During striper season on the river here, you will see shorter pontoons.. some of them are guides. But they keep that thing right in the channel. Most them are very experienced on the river.

I imagine it is. That's a bait that was always my Walmart years ago in the bargain bin...I caught LOADS of fish on them on a long shank jig head long before I knew what shakey head or what Ned Rig was. I have been known to bite some off and use them on a spinner bait because I had problems with fish hitting the blades instead of the hooks. I probably have a small tote full of them.

I only have 2 cranking rods. And for cranks deeper than 10, I use an old Daiwa Ballistic (the red ones) 7'7 Med, reg. With a Lews BB1 5:1. 12lb Sniper Floro. If it was something I had more passion for or was better at, I'd probably have a better set up or one that wasnt 7 years old. But for all intents and purposes it does a good job. Absolutely launches the crankbaits.

Thanks Andy, I love the video man! I've bought two of the reg tatulas in casting models in the past month...and I'm so impressed. I'm def drinking the daiwa tatula kool-aid. I really want to spend a few extra bucks and go up a class for the elites. Planning on giving my son my powell. I just wish I would have spent the extra money and got the elite on the jig rod I got. One question though, I know you seem to be pretty organized and are pretty careful with your tools and equipment, but have you noticed any problems with the AGS guides. Alot of the reviews on the them are negative and they are being made out as brittle.

Ci4 looking pretty popular

It looks like one of buzz baits thst Walmart used to hang up and sell for a dollar...it had that same time of odd frame and grass runner head.

Powell 712 with Stradic ci4. Bait monkey is telling me to get a tatula elite tho.

I understand what he was trying to say, but he was going in circles... so after 10 minutes I just cut it off

^^this

The moment you said, Jigs, I was thinking MH. I know the medium is probably rated for 3/4, but pitchin 1/2oz Jigs and paddle tails, Is MH territory.

That's a good day for me sometimes. Lol. It happens. Use the same gear long enough and you learn to interpret what your jig is sitting on. Last week I lost 4 jigs on 4 back to back pitches. Dang shame, 2 of the jigs have been in my box for 2 years, caught a boat load of fish, been repainted and re tied a handful of times. It just happens

Another vote for this However, another idea that nobody has brought up is a Custom hand made rod. Maybe you can find away to see what technique specific rod he would want if he had one choice..and maybe just get @Delaware Valley Tackle to make one. The only.down side to this is making a custom rod, I personally would want an input on the specifics... but I think he would be thrilled no matter what. In 8 years on this forum, I think you a re e the first I can remember to come in here on the husband's behalf to do something nice for them. ??

I love my powell rods. I love my 1 dobyns rod. But honestly, I think I have the most admiration and respect for Daiwa I really enjoy my daiwa rods. The og tatulas, and the new ones as well as the xt I got for my son, Blake. Heck I still have some light and tough rods that I use for camping, striper fishing and what not, that are still going strong. I've just never bought a bad product from them. Maybe it's just because I feel like my dollar stretches further with them and the product is GREAT. And I have never had a problem selling a daiwa rod. The go quick and for the most part in get a good chunk of my money back. please.dont get me wrong, I'm not super brand loyal, I tend to go where I get the best bang for my buck or to fill a specific need. I have powells, daiwas, dobyns, ducket, shimano, and one three, and just feel that daiwa is putting out a great rod. I like the tatula more than I do my OG Endurance rods. With that said, If the rod fairy would like to deliver a couple of STEEZE RODS to my house tonight, I wouldnt get mad. I'd like to see what the fuss is about ??

If you like the stradic, go for it. I have 1. Good reel. Braid will be good to go on spinning outfit. You should be fine with a medium. If you go ML and are concerned that it's too light l, just use braid and that should help. Either way you should be good. My recommendations - daiwa tatula or tatula elite 7' ml ehler rod, dobyns champ 682 or 683, I havent fished a shimani zodias, but my friends love them. Powell makes a good one, but moving forward, I'm just gonna buy the tatulas unless I find something better that I can get cheaper.

With that kinda budget you have alot of options. What brands do you like? If your looking for it to be a bank beating rod to and your concerned about length. Are you thinking 6'6

When you say muck, are you referring to a submergent vegetation, or is it algae

Good review. Beautiful fish.

VERY WELL SAID.

I only keep what I will eat. I typically do not keep largemouth bass for eating. If I know I'm going to eat them soon, I'll catch stripers, crappie, or catfish. That's just my personal preference as far as a food choice. I like flounder and mahi too. Just clean up behind your self and communicate with other angles near you and dont intrude on them while their fishing a spot. Hypothetically, if I was to eat largemouth bass I would be funny about what sizes I ate. I'd probably stick to the bare minimum legal length as a way to conserve some of the larger fish for the sport of it. Be careful fishing certain ponds and private lakes, some may have conservation programs and have special limits. All in all, just be considerate of others and our environment

Good news and bad news. Bad news, after a quick look, I was able to find the 7'1 heavy online ...but its 139.. still a little cheaper Good news, if your looking for a longer jig rod, I found a 7'6 Heavy tatula for 109 with free shipping If I had the extra money, I'd get it today.

I have that one too

Give it a try first. I like it for pitching jigs..I've literally used it for everything so far. Good all around rod. 3/8 plus weight from a soft plastic trailer really is the sweet spot for that rod. Dont let that soft tip fool you.

I dont think you have to get to specialized for these... either a medium or mh.

A little load isnt a bad thing. Mine seems fine with 1/2 ounce spinner bait

Another vote for the daiwa xt. If you can swing an extra 10 bucks, you can get the regular tatula that retails for 159, sportsman's has them 109.